What Adhesive is Right for Your Project

PVA - Polyvinyl Acetate (also known as craft or wood glue)

White glue that is clear drying

• Suited to the direct method of mosaics as tiles can be coated with glue prior to placement

• Non-load bearing, can be used on mosaics that either lie flat or have little weight bearing.

   

   

• Not waterproof making it not suitable to exterior applications

• Diluted it can be used as a sealant in a ratio of 50:50 to water

EVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate

Water resistant version of PVA

• Can be used on an outside area that will get wet

• It is water resistant not water proof so do not use in an area that will be submerged in water

Liquid Nails

Construction Adhesive

• Manufactured by Selleys brand and available in a range of different adhesive for specific applications
• Available in cartridge gun form but some products are available in smaller squeeze packets.
• Clear Liquid nails is a handy adhesive in mosaics. Not only is it clear drying, but it is a tacky adhesive which holds heavier tiles in place while drying. It can be used to compensate for variations in thicknesses. Place a dollop onto a disposable sheet and use a tool to apply the adhesive to the mosaic. Do not use Clear Liquid Nails on mirror as it may lead to the mirror de-silvering
• Platinum Liquid Nails is an extremely strong adhesive but extremely difficult to work with. Do not let the adhesive come into contact with your skin and use only in well-ventilated areas. Not for the faint hearted!

Selleys Kwi Grip Advanced

Selleys Kwik Grip Advanced is a non-toxic, low fume, low odour, water-based flexible contact adhesive. Suitable for bonding absorbent and non-absorbent surfaces and ideal for bonding flat, close fitting surfaces. Forms a durable heat and water-resistant bond, being water based it is non-toxic and easy to clean up.

Use to bond: Polystyrene foam (will not degrade the foam) and metals.

• Suitable for internal and external mosaic work
• Comes in two parts, a hardener & resin that are mixed together just before use.
• Extremely strong adhesive
• Produces a lot of fumes and must be used in a well-ventilated space.
• Great for outdoor applications which are constantly wet (e.g. birdbaths)
• Can hold heavy tesserae pieces (e.g. Stones, Shells)
• It is the only adhesive that will permanently stick tesserae to metal
• Can be tricky to work with, as they are extremely sticky, can be quite runny and usually set fairly fast. Not for beginners to mosaics.

• Recommended by a number of mosaicists for internal mosaics
• Can be used on cement, concrete, bricks, plaster, metal, glass, wood and tiles
• Stronger than the average white craft glue
• Water soluble, no fumes, non-toxic and easy to clean up
• Dries clear making it suitable to use on glass on glass applications
• Not waterproof making it not suitable for exterior applications
• Suited to Direct Method of mosaics as tiles can be coated with glue prior to placement
• Diluted it can be used as a sealant, mix 4 or 5 parts to one with water for sealing wood and terra-cotta projects

• Recommended for exterior mosaics
• Suited for the indirect method of mosaics for making an adhesive bedding. Work best for outdoor work, floor and heavy traffic areas.
• Best adhesive to use if using the direct method and uneven tesserae.
• Can be applied like icing. Place in a plastic bag and cut a corner (just like an icing bag)
• Can be made waterproof by mixing with an acrylic additive. Great for stepping-stones, birdbaths, terracotta and an exterior mosaics.
• The bond to both the tesserae and the backer material is improved by adding a commercial tile bonding agent and priming the backer material with the same products, before applying the paste.
• Available from tiling specialists

• A very sticky, paste-like adhesive
• It has great slip resistance and works well for vertical surfaces.
• Applied with a craft stick or palette knife
• Not recommended for use on floors, under pressure it can become brittle and break down
• Not recommended for exterior applications or in areas where it will be exposed to moisture
• Not as strong as cement based adhesives
• Used to attach tile to drywall

• Dries clear so great for glass on glass projects
• Waterproof and flexible
• Suitable for use on mirror tiles as it won't de-silver the back
• Make sure the back of the tile is coated completely so that grout cannot seep under the edges and spoil the effect
• A tacky adhesive which allows heavier pieces to stay in place while drying
• Strong smelling, use in a well ventilated room